Small Business

Oregon governor plans minimum wage hike

The minimum wage in Portland could increase to $15.52 an hour, and $13.50 an hour in the rest of the state, according to a plan unveiled by Oregon Governor, Kate Brown. Jillian Kitchen reports.

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Workers in Portland may soon get a boost in pay.
Governor Kate Brown has unveiled a plan to gradually increase the minimum wage from $9.25 to $15.52 an hour in the Portland metro area.
The rest of the state would increase to $13.50 an hour.
The first increase would take effect in a year... but workers would have to wait until 2022 to see their entire raise.
And with cost of living on the rise, many Portland-area residents say it would bring a much needed change:
(SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING:
"I think they ought to have a way for a person to survive on, and be able to feed themselves and pay for their rent."
The governor's office says that AFTER 2022, the minimum would be indexed to inflation.
(SOUNDBITE) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING:
"So if we want to continue having families living in the city, then we have to raise the wages."
But passage through the legislature may not be easy. Some Republicans say the plan would lead to job losses and price increases.

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